2003 Florida Code
TITLE XXXVII INSURANCE
Chapter 626 INSURANCE FIELD REPRESENTATIVES AND OPERATIONS  
PART VI INSURANCE ADJUSTERS (ss. 626.851-626.878)
626.8695   Primary adjuster.

626.8695  Primary adjuster.--

(1)  Each person operating an adjusting firm and each location of a multiple location adjusting firm must designate a primary adjuster for each such firm or location and must file with the office the name of such primary adjuster and the address of the firm or location where he or she is the primary adjuster, on a form approved by the commission. The designation of the primary adjuster may be changed at the option of the adjusting firm. Any such change is effective upon notification to the office. Notice of change must be sent to the office within 30 days after such change.

(2)(a)  For purposes of this section, a "primary adjuster" is the licensed adjuster who is responsible for the hiring and supervision of all individuals within an adjusting firm location who deal with the public and who acts in the capacity of a public adjuster as defined in s. 626.854, or an independent adjuster as defined in s. 626.855. An adjuster may be designated as a primary adjuster for only one adjusting firm location.

(b)  For purposes of this section, an "adjusting firm" is a location where an independent or public adjuster is engaged in the business of insurance.

(3)  The office may suspend or revoke the license of the primary adjuster if the adjusting firm employs any person who has had a license denied or any person whose license is currently suspended or revoked. However, if a person has been denied a license for failure to pass a required examination, he or she may be employed to perform clerical or administrative functions for which licensure is not required.

(4)  The primary adjuster in an unincorporated adjusting firm, or the primary adjuster in an incorporated adjusting firm in which no officer, director, or stockholder is an adjuster, is responsible and accountable for the acts of salaried employees under his or her direct supervision and control while acting on behalf of the adjusting firm. Nothing in this section renders any person criminally liable or subject to any disciplinary proceedings for any act unless the person personally committed or knew or should have known of the act and of the facts constituting a violation of this code.

(5)  The office may suspend or revoke the license of any adjuster who is employed by a person whose license is currently suspended or revoked.

(6)  An adjusting firm location may not conduct the business of insurance unless a primary adjuster is designated. Failure of the person operating the adjusting firm to designate a primary adjuster for the firm, or for each location, as applicable, on a form prescribed by the commission within 30 days after inception of the firm or change of primary adjuster designation, constitutes grounds for requiring the adjusting firm to obtain an adjusting firm license pursuant to s. 626.8696.

(7)  Any adjusting firm may request, on a form prescribed by the commission, verification from the office of any person's current licensure status. If a request is mailed to the office within 5 working days after the date an adjuster is hired, and the office subsequently notifies the adjusting firm that an employee's license is currently suspended, revoked, or has been denied, the license of the primary adjuster shall not be revoked or suspended if the unlicensed person is immediately dismissed from employment as an adjuster with the firm.

History.--s. 25, ch. 92-146; s. 290, ch. 97-102; s. 63, ch. 98-199; s. 981, ch. 2003-261.